It’s a good thing that I was born into a generation that was allowed to do science experiments at home, because ownership of basic lab equipment and chemicals is being criminalized.

I was never a model rocketer, nor much of a backyard fireworks guy, but I know many successful scientists who were. I guess that’s the end of that. I did take an undergraduate chemistry class from a guy who would set off one explosion in every lecture. He was spellbinding. I hope he’s not in prison now.

I did have a nice little chemistry set, and I remember making colorful concoctions and fiddling around with the litmus paper. Apparently even that is illegal, now. I hope electronics kits don’t follow suit. The other day I had to counsel a mom at the You-Do-It electronics store; she was nervous because her son was planning to etch a circuit board with chemicals (gasp!). The kid seemed to be pretty smart, so I tried to explain to her that thousands of teenage electronics hobbyists have managed to etch boards without killing anyone.

Of course, driving explosives hobbyists underground is a great way to increase the danger of their work. Just as Sam Adams beer is a healthier and purer product than bathtub gin (because it’s produced in public view and consumed by millions), so is model rocketry a lot safer and smarter than making homemade fireworks from household chemicals. So, naturally, Prohibitionists are working overtime to make model rocketry illegal. It’s consistent with the rest of their philosophy. Preventing dangerous activity is difficult; it’s far simpler to make safe activities appear dangerous, then claim lots of credit for stopping them.

I wonder whether my science Ph.D. will serve as a get-out-of-jail free card, allowing me to buy whatever chemicals I want for “research” purposes? That would be good for me, of course, but it’s manifestly unfair.